Books by Gary Graybill

Friday, September 2, 2011

China Likes American style Chinese Fast Food

American chain restaurants like KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks have all been doing well in China and now our version of “American style” Chinese fast-food chain restaurants have sprouted up everywhere in China. The Chinese chains have picked up on the American concept of inexpensive, standardized food items served in disposable paper and plastic as quickly as you can order them.

China has also adapted the fast-food approach to its own cuisine. Chinese chains offer dumplings, noodle soup, fried rice, and milk tea – in addition to standard American fast-food burgers and sodas. But perhaps the biggest attraction there are the clean tables and bathrooms, not something you will find in other cheap eateries in China.

Some of the most popular Chinese chains are Mr. Lee’s (beef noodle soup, dumplings, and wantons are specialties); Kungfu, a 10-year-old chain which now has more than 300 restaurants in China; Yonghe King, founded in Shanghai in 1995, which also specializes in noodles; and East Dawning, owned by Yum! Brands (the company that also owns KFC in China).

Queen Lili'uokalani's Birthday

Today is Queen Liliuokalani’s birthday. Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian islands. She felt her mission was to preserve the islands for their native residents.

Upon the death of her brother, King Kalakauam Liliuokalani ascended the throne of Hawaii in January 1891. One of her first acts was to recommend a new Hawaii constitution, as the "Bayonet Constitution" of 1887 limited the power of the monarch and political power of native Hawaiians. In 1890, the McKinley Tariff began to cause a recession in the islands by withdrew the safeguards ensuring a mainland market for Hawaiian sugar. American interests in Hawaii began to consider annexation for Hawaii to re-establish an economic competitive position for sugar. In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani sought to empower herself and Hawaiians through a new constitution which she herself had drawn up and now desired to promulgate as the new law of the land. It was Queen Liliuokalani's right as a sovereign to issue a new constitution through an edict from the throne. A group led by Sanford B. Dole sought to overthrow the institution of the monarchy. The American minister in Hawaii, John L. Stevens, called for troops to take control of Iolani Palace and various other governmental buildings. In 1894, the Queen, was deposed, the monarchy abrogated, and a provisional government was established which later became the Republic of Hawaii.

In 1893, James H. Blount, newly appointed American minister to Hawaii, arrived representing President Grover Cleveland. Blount listened to both sides, annexationists and restorationists, and concluded the Hawaiian people aligned with the Queen. Blount and Cleveland agreed the Queen should be restored. Blount's final report implicated the American minister Stevens in the illegal overthrow of Liliuokalani. Albert S. Willis, Cleveland's next American minister offered the crown back to the Queen on the condition she pardon and grant general amnesty to those who had dethroned her. She initially refused but soon she changed her mind and offered clemency. This delay compromised her political position and President Cleveland had released the entire issue of the Hawaiian revolution to Congress for debate. The annexationists promptly lobbied Congress against restoration of the monarchy. On July 4, 1894, the Republic of Hawaii with Sanford B. Dole as president was proclaimed. It was recognized immediately by the United States government.

In 1895, Liliuokalani was arrested and forced to reside in Iolani Palace after a cache of weapons was found in the gardens of her home in Washington Place. She denied knowing of the existence of this cache and was reportedly unaware of others' efforts to restore the royalty. In 1896, she was released and returned to her home at Washington Place where she lived for the next two decades. Hawaii was annexed to the United States through a joint resolution of the U. S. Congress in 1898 . The "ex-"queen died due to complications from a stroke in 1917. A statue of her was erected on the grounds of the State Capital in Honolulu.